Dow Closes the Week and Obama’s First Term Higher

Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The markets called it a week Friday with a relatively quiet session.

The Dow gained 54 points, to close at 13,649.70 — up just over a point for the week. The Nasdaq lost a point Friday to close at 3,134.70. The S&P added five points, closing at 1,485.98. Both the indexes gained a fraction for the week.

A mixed batch of earnings from some of the nation’s corproate giants moved the markets. Shares of General Electric and Morgan Stanley rose after turning in better than expected report cards, while a 27 percent drop in earnings sank Intel’s stock.

The Dow marked its largest rally during a presidential term since former President Bill Clinton’s first four years in office. The Dow has seen a 72 percent climb during President Obama’s first term, according to the Wall Street Journal. By the end of Clinton’s first four years, the index had increased 111 percent.